ARC Review: Better Together by Crista McHugh

Better Together

Author: Crista McHugh
Series: One Fond Embrace #1
Pages: Kindle Edition, 168 pages
Genre: Romance
Release Date: August 20th 2018

Summary:

Hawaiian rancher Alex Kahale needs a temporary wife to close a deal that’s vital to the welfare of his herd. Thankfully, he’s already married to a woman stole his heart in less than a week, even if that same wife filed for divorce a few days after they said their “I dos.”

Rising country music star Britney Moore had a wild fling with a cowboy in Las Vegas a year ago which ended in a drunken drive-through marriage. Once she returned to Nashville, she filed for divorce to save her squeaky clean image. Besides, spontaneous marriages never last, and she knows better than to risk her heart on Alex. But no matter how many requests she sends him, he refuses to sign the papers. Then he sends her an intriguing offer. Come to his ranch on Kauai and pretend to be his wife for two weeks for business purposes, and he’ll sign the papers.

As much as Britney tries to resist his charm, Alex manages to tear down her defenses one by one until she falls for him all over again. But when the press finds out about her secret husband, will their revived romance be killed by the tablo

Review:

3 Stars or 3.5Stars? hmm, I will still ponder on the rating.

Let's just look at what I liked and didn't like first.

So I have read several books by McHugh, so it's kinda clear I like her writing style. Better together had many beautifully written moments, which just reaffirmed my love for her prose.

The storyline is... well, honestly, kinda a little bit different and a lot of cute & fluffy. But in all fairness, this is a cute & fluffy. Which I really enjoyed, I wasn't looking for some deep mystery or beyond shocking twists. It kept me entertained, made me smile and even a little swoony. It's a fast and sweet read, perfect for a summer afternoon.

I loved the setting. I love all of Alex's clique. They are an awesome support cast and the heart of this novel. Hawaii is really high on my bucket list and while I was reading Better Together, I started thinking maybe we should move there! Mountains, Oceans, lots of green and nice people? Totally my vibe! ;)
But seriously McHugh made me totally fall in love with Kauai. Her descriptions felt real and gave me a taste of the place. I would love to know what locals think of this! The sense of beauty and belonging, loving your roots- something that made my nomad heart ponder very much, yet did speak to it- is beautifully conveyed.
Alex is swoony. I love love love him. (I am calling dips, just saying!)

The scenes where Britney plays her music are inspiring. And Alex'love for his island and his Ohana is infectious and inspirational.

Now my issues.
My biggest issue was Britney. I mean I got why she was doing what she was doing. I got why she wanted those papers.. but the whole, okay just one little bit, a bit of flirting here and a whole lot of freakn rejection there, it was grating on me. She was complaining when Alex kept her distance, yet she didn't want to be close to him. She ran so hot and cold all the time, I just got beyond annoyed.
The other issue I had was actually Alex. I mean I do love him. Really I love love love him. But- yes there is always one of those. But, his chip was, well, I didn't get it. I mean I did but it didn't resonate with me. Or maybe it just felt a bit too thick layed on. I am not sure. But around halfway in I did feel, those two should just get the messages. His constant need to change her mind was too much. He kept saying, cool I am letting go, then she as much as batted her lashed and he was, let me try do this, so she will change her mind. The pull and push felt childish and was annoying. Until it wasn't. I have to admit I was naturally rooting for them, and when they both finally let go of their stubborn on mind track, I totally swooned.
I love that Alex sorted stuff in the end, and naturally, I love that the gang was there supporting him.

So a few bits that I found exasperating but mostly a sweet romance and beautiful moments.
Very enjoyable, a book that takes you to your own island!
So a solid 3.5 twinkly Stars

Rating: 


ARC was provided by Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Review: In The Red Zone by Crista McHugh

In the Red Zone

Author: Crista McHugh
Series: Kelly Brothers #6
Pages:Paperback, 212 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 25th 2015

Summary:

All-Star linebacker Frank Kelly is as well-known for his off-the-field hits as he is for his on-field ones. When a dance club brawl ends with him in handcuffs again, he’s rescued by a well-connected woman who can get the charges dropped in exchange for a small favor. If he’ll agree to play the part of a doting boyfriend for two months, she’ll keep him out of the slammer and help restore his reputation.

Kiana Dyer may be the daughter of a Hall of Fame football player, but the charity organization she took over when he died isn’t getting the media attention she’d hoped for. A staged romance with Frank Kelly is just the ticket she needs to get in the spotlight. As the lines between fake and real start to blur, she begins to wonder if bailing him out was the best call she’s ever made. Just when everything seems to be falling perfectly in place, scandal surrounds her charity, and she’s the one left scrambling to clear her name.

Recommended for those who like:
Sports Romance
Interracial or Multicultural Romance
BWWM

Review:

This is book six of the Kelly Brothers Series... BOOK SIX!! I can't believe I read six books in this series, it feels like way less. This is a good thing by the way, I rarely keep interest for a series beyond 6book, I quite often get kinda bored after book five or so. When I realised that In The Red Zone is the penultimate in the series, I thought, can't McHugh invent some half brothers? I mean just add that Kelly senior had an affair or two and add a few illegitimate previously unknown brothers.... okay maybe I am a tad bit unreasonable. But sufficient to say, I like the series and wish there would be more way more than just one more book

This one just like the others features one of the Kelly brothers and his love interest. So he is rich and handsome and all around awesome, naturally. McHugh did this really clever thing though, that each brother is in a different profession and in a different place than all the others. Which as a result means each book is set in completely different premisses.  As I said very clever. It makes each book feel fresh and each book works as a standalone as well. While naturally it's advised to read the series in order, you don't really have to. The books don't really give away any spoilers- well nearly none at least. Which brings me to one of the things I found lacking in In The Red Zone; I really would have liked more of the other Kelly in this book. I love the brothers and other than a few phone call, there was no interactions between them.

The story line is, well frankly, predictable. None of the twists surprised me at all, not only that I saw them coming from a mile. There is the usual usual that comes with a cute & fluffy - and a really sweet ending.  No surprise but very enjoyable, I read this in one sitting. So if you need an insta c&f fix this is your thing.

The writing, well no surprise, is great. I adore Crista McHugh's prose. In fact I found her books by chance on Netgalley and have read every single thing she released ever since. She has definitely a way with words and is one of my favorite Indie authors.

The character building was interesting for a couple of reasons. First Frank is a red head... which well, no offense doesn't usually make me think of hot and sexy.... but well, true to form, McHugh made him not only a total toyboy, she also gave him integrity and made him desirable not just because of his abs.. trust me total marriage material. Let me illustrate that for you...

Changed my mind entirely ;) I like red heads now.. and the smut, oh the smut in this, it helped greatly achieve that..yep, McHugh did write some rather enticing smut scenes

Kiana is of a totally different background than any other female character and comes with plenty of baggage. But frankly I wasn't sure I could relate to some of her issues. In fact some of them just made me roll my eyes and feel she was being over dramatic.
Her brother was too cliche for me, I found him not believable, though to be honest, I could not point out exactly why and what. Maybe it was just all a tad too over the top? Not sure. I had huge issues with his name calling for starters, but not only that, I could just not understand where the animosity came from at all...
Talking about that, I am not sure how I feel about how Kiana handled the situation in the end. I mean she did live with T for most of her life? And how does the mother feel? It was a bit to fast and to easily done with.

A side note: as someone who is in a mixed race marriage, I found it really cool that McHugh went that route. And even better that she actually showed that while often the couple doesn't really think of themselves in that term- others not only do, they often point it out as well. I don't think I'll ever get the issue and will definitely never even get close to understanding the name calling. While this is not a deep social analyses- it was nice to read a romance set in that setting. McHugh managed to bring diversity without making it a big deal. Just like in real life!

All in all: a great addition to a wonderful series and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Well written, fun cute & fluffy a must read for lovers of the genre.





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Review: Falling for the Wingman by Crista McHugh

Falling for the Wingman

Author: Crista McHugh
Publisher: Crista McHugh
Series: The Kelly Brothers #3
Pages: Paperback, 198 pages
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: March 3, 2014

Summary:

Air Force pilot Caleb Kelly has come back home with one mission in mind—to propose to the woman whose letters and lucky charm helped him survive his deployment in Afghanistan. But when he finds their apartment empty with a note saying she’s left him, he arrives at her mother’s house in rural Alabama less than a week before Kourtney is about to marry another man. Now he’s out to win her heart again and gets some unexpected assistance from her younger sister, Alex.

Alex Leadbetter has always thought Caleb was too good for her manipulative, social-climbing sister. She had assumed Kourtney’s identity to write letters to him and keep his spirits up until he returned home to the hard truth, never expecting to fall in love with him along the way. After he shows up in town, she convinces him that the best way to get Kourtney back is to make her think he’s fallen for someone new — her. But when a fake romance becomes all too real, her deception may leave them both grounded.

Review:

Sweet!
If I had one word to describe this book, that's the one I would use. Not in the urban slang sweet- as in cool, no no, I mean the kind of sweet that sugar coats your heart and makes you feel all smily and leaves a pink haze in your eyes.

The Kelly Brothers Series is fast becoming my cute and fluffy guaranteed fix for 2013.
I love McHugh writing, so each time I get my hands on one of her novels, I know that at that level I will be given joy. And Falling for the Wingman didn't disappoint. I love the dual POV and felt that their voices were quite unique. In fact to my utter joy I find each brother in each book totally different and so are their voices. Which is one of the pleasure about the series, besides the man-candy and the cute&fluffy, I am totally appreciating.

The Story line is SWEET. Yes, I am recycling the word- and let me warn you I will use it several times over.The story line is your typical falling for the wrong sister kinda romance. But this is a wonderful and very real feeling variation of it.
While Sweetest Seduction was set around the restaurant industry and Breakaway Hearts setting was around professional ice hockey -Falling for the Wingman was kinda set around cars. And I am saying kinda, because that's what Alex and Caleb both love. But unlike the first two novel, I didn't feel as excited about the background setting in this one. At first I thought I might have to do with the fact- that I have been involved in the fields of both previous novels and though I do love fast cars I do have to admit I don't know very much about them.. But thinking about it I came to the conclusion, that wasn't it. Somehow the cars took a way bigger back seat than the passions of the previous books. This was way more about the sisters than cars, which I found quite sad. I would have preferred it somehow the other way around.
The smut by the way was hot but definitely not my favorite in the series- better than the first one though- not so much insta-lust- but more.

Looking at the characters, I loved that Adam featured again and I did like Caleb in the first book- so it was great to read his story. He didn't disappoint. Alex was nice, but I did find her actually manipulative- I know it sounds bitchy considering- but she did deceive him, in the hope that he will discover her. So that leaves me wondering if lying of the right reasons is better than for what we think the wrong ones?
I did love Alex's circle of friends and how Caleb and her interacted with them. It felt real and realistic.
Found the bitch factor with sis a bit over the top - though in the end it was solved beautifully, which was more than redeeming for the series.
The way Alex and Caleb's relationship grew was probably more realistic than the previous two. And pleased to say there isn't much insta-love around, always a good thing in my opinion. By the end of the book, I felt like they had a solid connection and like I knew them quite well and understood them.
On an other note: I found this time around the mother less cliche, more real and I am looking forward to seeing more of her in future books.


All in all a sweet book. Yes, I used that word again. Told you I would.
If you feel like something sweet- or are in need of your cute & fluffy fix, this is the book for you.
Each of the sequels can work as a stand alone- but frankly, let me tell you, you wanna read ALL of them!

Falling for the Wingman did leave me wanting more! AND again it left me wanting to pick McHugh's brain.
But mostly it left me hoping that McHugh will write a book for EACH Kelly brother!


Rating: 

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